Engine starter



Feb. 18, 1936.

R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Jan. 8, 1929 3maentor attorneys Patented Feb. 18, 193 I PATENT OFFICE Enema sran'rsa Raymond P.

Eclipse Machine Com Lansing,'Montclair, N. 3., assignor to pany, Elmira Heights,

N. 2., a corporation of New York Original application January 8, 1929, Serial No. 331,898. Divided and this application August 24, 1934, Serial no. 741,309

4 Claims. (01. 123-119) This invention relates to engine starters and more particularly to a starter ofthe inertia type.

Although the particular'inventive embodiment;

illustrated in the accompanying drawing diifers patentably from the inventive embodiment disclosed in my co-pending application No. 331,093, filed January 8, 1929, certain of the claims of this application are directed to the invention generically considered, and therefore dominate the species disclosed and claimed in the said earlier filed application. The embodiment of the invention herein illustrated was originally shown in the said earlier filed application but is not claimed therein either generically or spe cifically, r v One of'the objects ofthe' present invention is to provide a novel engine starter of the inertia or flywheel type, a motor for rotating theflywheel, the motor having the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the flywheel and laterally spaced therefrom, whereby the length of the structure is materially reduced without excessive increase in the transverse dimensions thereof. v A' further object is to provide novel starting mechanism of the above character which embodies manually operable means for rotating the flywheel, said manually operable means being adapted for actuation independently of the motor or for conjoint action, and being angularly adjustable in relation to the power means. In the accompanying drawing which constitutes alongitudinal viewin section of the preferred embodiment of the invention, a flywheel is shown as adapted to rotate an engine engaging member or clutch jaw 8 which is movable into driving engagement with a jaw member I connecting with or constituting part of the engine crankshaft. The starting apparatus also includes a housing constituted by inner sections 8, 82, and 82', and an outer section 88 within which is rotatably mounted the flywheel 5, said housing sections being; connected by suitable" means 8|. The flywheel 8 is'rotatably mounted as by means of suitable bearings 83 in -a wall or diaphragm 84 which is'clamped between hous- -ing sections 88 and 82. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the flywheel is keyed to a shaft l8 having anopening therethrough.

55 bevel gear 88 which is rotatably supported as by by a suitable hand crank,

means of a bearing 81 in the end wall of housing section 88. Secured to the outer end of said section 88 by means of screws is a casing 88 in which is rotatably mounted a cranking shaft 88. The inner end of said shaft carries a bevel gear 98 which meshes with the bevel gear 88, and the outer end of said shaft is adapted to be engaged not shown.

By adjusting the position of casing 88 relative to housing section 88 the angular position of cranking shaft 89 may be varied as desired to facilitate engagement of the hand crank with said cranking shaft, and this without interrupting the driving connection between gears 88 and 88. Extending freely through shaft 85 and jaw member 8 is a rod 88 which terminates adjacent its outer end within the casing .88, and

- has a pin and slot connection with a lever arm 8| that is rigidly connected to a rockshaft 92 carrying the bell crank 14 bywhichsaidrod 88 may be moved longitudinally to move jaw member 8 into driving engagement with Jaw member I. j

- In order to reduce the overall length of the apparatus and at the same time provide a compact, symmetrical arrangement, the motor 51, which is preferably of an electric character, has its longitudinal axis laterally spaced from and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation vof the flywheel, with the inner end of said motor extending inwardly beyond the vertical plane of the flywheel 8. One end of the amiature shaft 88 of the motor projects into the casing section 82*, and is threaded for a portion of its length to receive a clutch member 8| adapted for rotary and longitudinal movement relative to ber 88 within which is secured a clutch member 81 adapted to be engaged and driven by clutch member 8i. The periphery of the large end of member 88 is formed as a spur gear 88 meshing with a gear 84 which in turn meshes with the flywheel pinion 28 and is integral with a pinion 83. The means for. connecting the. pinion 83 to the has rigidly connected theretoa bell shaped memclutch 6 preferably includes a gear 21 formed integrally with a' pinion 33 that is rotatably mounted by means of a bushing 28 on a stub shaft 30 which is formed integrally with, and projects centrally from the closed end of a barrel 3 l9 rotatably mounted in inner housing section l'by means of ball bearings 32.

Pinion 28 constitutes a sun gear for a plurality of planetary gears 33, one of which is shown in section in the drawing. Preferably three planetary gears are employed, the same being spaced at intervals of 120 degrees about the closed end. of barrel 3i, and said gears mesh with an internal gear 33* which is secured in the manner shown outer ends of the screws 36 and constitutes a retaining member for the ball bearings 34 and sleeves 35.

Means are preferably interposed between the gear train described above and the engine engaging member 6 for yieldingly transmitting the energy in the flywheel to the engine crankshaft without damage such as might result if the driving connections were entirely constituted by rigidly connected elements. For this purpose a multiple disc clutch is preferably employed, said clutch being mounted in barrel 3|",

As shown, the clutch comprises a plurality of annular discs 31', certain of the discs being splined at their outer peripheries to the inner surface of barrel 3| and the remaining discs being splined at their inner peripheries to the outer surface of an interiorly threaded nut 33 which is provided intermediate its ends with a flange 33. The clutch discs are positioned between flange 3! and the closed end of barrel 3! and adjustable yielding means are provided for holding nut 33 in operative position with respect to the discs and barrel and for varying the frictional engagement of said discs.

In the illustrated embodiment the yielding means comprise a plurality of coil springs 4| which extend longitudinally within the barrel. the outer ends of said springs having operative engagement with the flange 33. A ring 4| provided with a plurality of laterally projecting studs 42 is mounted in the barrel, with the studs extending into the coils of the springs whereby the latter are maintained in proper spaced relation. An adjusting nut 43 is threaded into the open end of the barrel and has abutting engagement with the inner face of ring 4|. By adjusting the position-of nut 43 longitudinally of barrel 3| the compression of springs 40 may be changed to vary the pressure with which the clutch discs or plates 31* are engaged.

Exteriorly threaded onto the inner end of barrel 3| is a retaining ring 44 for the adjacent ball bearing 32. Ring 44 may be locked in pomtion by means of a wire 45, and said ring is adapted to coact with a shoulder 46, provided on the outer end of the barrel and having engagement with the inner race of outer ball bearing 33, to prevent endwise movement of the barrel relative to the inner housing section I.

Positioned within nut 33 is a threaded shaft 41 adapted for rotary and longitudinal movement relative to thenut. The outer end of said shaft is provided with suitable means such as a nut 48 adapted to engage a shoulder formed interiorly of member 38 to limit longitudinal movement of the shaft to the left as viewed in the drawing. The inner end of shaft 41 is longitudinally splined and extends into the correspondingly splined hub portion of clutch member 8 whereby these parts have positive driving engagement, but are adapted for relative longitudinal movement. A coil spring 49, which'preferably has its outer end extending into a recess in shaft 41, is interposed between said shaft and the jaw member 6 and yieldingly resists movement of the jaw member toward the shaft.

Means are preferably provided for'preventing oil from seeping from the cranking case into the starter housing, since such oil would impair the operation of the apparatus. For this purpose a cup shaped member 15, which is preferably formed of metal and is provided on its outer end with a flange 15* adapted to be clamped between flange ll of the starter housing and the crank case If of the engine, is fitted over the inner end of the starter that projects into the crank case. Secured to the member 15 is a flexible guard or disc 16 of annular form, the inner periphery of said guard having engagement with the outer surface of the laterally projecting hub portion of jaw member 6. A sleeve 11 surrounds and has sliding engagement with the said hub portion and extends outwardly into abutting engagement with flange 39. r

The inner-end of sleeve 11 bears against a ring 13 to hold the latter in engagement with the flexible guard 16. The length of sleeve 11 is preferably such that the inner portion of guard 16 is flexed outwardly into engagement with the adjacent face of the jaw member t and seepage of oil into the starter housing at this point is thereby prevented without interference with the longitudinal movement of the jaw member. A pair of washers 19, one of which may be formed of flexible material, is mounted on rod 69' intermediate shaft 41 and jaw member 6 to prevent seepage of oil through the central opening in said jaw member.

When it is desired to store energy in the flywheel, preparatory to cranking the engine, the operator engages a hand crank with the outer end of shaft and rotates the latter. This motion is transmitted through the gear train to flywheel 5 whereby the latter is rotated a large number of times for each revolution of shaft .9. Actuation of shaft 89 results in rotation of barrel 3 I and all the parts therein with the exception of rod to which maintains jaw member 6 out of driving engagement with member 1. Stub shaft 64 and bell shaped member 88 are also rotated but no driving connection to motor 51 is established at this time.

After the flywheel has been brought to the desired speed of rotation, i. e., after sufficient energy for cranking the engine has been stored therein, the operator actuates the bell crank'lever 14, as by exerting a pull on a suitable cable connected to said lever, whereupon rod 69 is forced to the left as viewed in drawing. Shoulder 1| forces shaft 41 to the left, the latter having -a combined rotary and longitudinal movement due to its threaded connection with the nut 38, and jaw member 8 is yieldingly moved through spring 49 into full meshing engagement with jaw member 1. The energy of the flywheel is now effective to crank the engine.

when the engine starts under its own power the speed of rotation of clutch member 1 is greater than that of jaw member 6, and the inclined teeth of said jaw members are now effective to move member to the right out ofdriving engagement. The yielding means associated with the rockshaft 92 is effective to move rod 69 to normal position when the operator releases bell crank lever ll.

If it is desired to employ-motor II for energizing flywheel 5, the circuit to said motor is closed whereupon armature shaft 60 is rotated.' The member GI will now be automatically advanced against the tension of spring 63, into driving engagement with the clutch member 81. A driving connection is now established between the motor and flywheel through gear 68, gear 9, and pinion 20 whereby the flywheel is rotated and energy is stored therein. The electric motor may be employed in conjunction with the crankshaft 89 to energize the flywheel as, for example, when it is desired to conserve the electrical energy employed for actuating the motor, or when the supply of electrical energy is low.

There is thus provided a novel engine starter of the flywheel type which is so constructed as to embody both motor and power means for energizing the flywheel, the structure being light in weight and symmetrical in form. By mounting the motor on the housing with the longitudinal axis of the armature shaft substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the flywheel the overall 4 dimensions of the starter are reduced, and a better distribution of weight is attained.

What I claim is:

1. In an engine starter of the type embodying a high speed flywheel, a housing having a laterally projecting portion, a shaft rotatably mounted in said projecting portion, a motor secured to the projecting'portion of the housing, means for drivably connecting the motor and shaft. and means for drivably connecting the flywheel with said shaft, said last named means including a set of tudinal movement of one of said clutch elements into position to transmit energy to said flywheel,

1 and means movable axially of and within the-flywheel to cause longitudinal movement of the other clutch elementinto position to drivably connect the flywheel with said member to be driven.

3. In combination with a flywheel and a shaft operable to energize said flywheel, a pair of clutch elements movable longitudinally along parallel axes, one of which axes coincides with the axis of said shaft, means responsive to rotation of said shaft to cause longitudinal movement of one of said clutch elements, and means movable axially of and within the flywheel to cause longitudinal movement of the other clutch element, said lastnamed means including a second shaft and a rod projecting from said second shaft at both. ends thereof, and means located onopposite sides of said flywheel for supporting said shaft and rod. 4. In an engine starter, the combination with a high speed flywheel, a housing having a projecting portion, and a motor secured to the projecting portion of the housing, of means for drivably connecting the motor and flywheel, said means including a set of gears and clutch elements all of which are disposed in a common plane parallel to and closely adjacent the end surfaces of both the motor and flywheel.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

